Heavy-duty swivel bearing

Abstract

A swivelable journal bearing for a shaft of a converter or other heavy-duty equipment comprises a spherically convex inner ring on the shaft and an annular array of rigidly interconnected socket elements each forming at least one seat for an inwardly projecting low-friction insert having a spherically concave face in contact with the ring surface. The socket elements may be short tubes welded to one another or embedded in a shell of concrete; they could also be perforated strips welded together and backed by a concrete shell.

We claim: 
     
       1. A swivelable journal bearing for a shaft, comprising: a shaft-supported inner ring with a spherically convex outer surface;   an outer annular body divided into a multiplicity of socket elements rigidly welded to one another, said body coaxially surrounding said ring with clearance, each of said socket elements being provided with at least one throughgoing aperture facing said ring;   a low-friction insert in each aperture projecting into said clearance, said insert having a spherically concave face in contact with and conforming to said outer surface; and   a mass of concrete obstructing the end of each aperture remote from said ring in contact with the insert thereof for back-stopping same.   
     
     
       2. A journal bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket elements are tubes extending generally radially toward the ring axis. 
     
     
       3. A journal bearing as defined in claim 2 wherein said tubes form a cluster with intervening spaces, further comprising a lubricant occupying said spaces. 
     
     
       4. A journal bearing as defined in claim 2 wherein said tubes are embedded in a concrete shell surrounding said ring, said mass being part of said shell. 
     
     
       5. A journal bearing as defined in claim 2 wherein said tubes have axes lying in a plurality of planes perpendicular to the ring axis, said tubes having outer ends terminating at an imaginary cylinder surface centered on the ring axis. 
     
     
       6. A journal bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket elements are perforated strips extending generally parallel to the ring axis, said mass being part of a concrete shell surrounding said ring. 
     
     
       7. A journal bearing as defined in claim 6 wherein said shell is flanked by a pair of hoops welded to opposite ends of said strips. 
     
     
       8. A journal bearing as defined in claim 6 wherein said strips are curved generally parallel to said outer surface. 
     
     
       9. A swivelable journal bearing for a shaft, comprising: a shaft-supported inner ring with a spherically convex outer surface;   an outer annular body divided into a multiplicity of socket elements rigidly welded to one another, said body coaxially surrounding said ring with clearance, each of said socket elements being formed with at least one throughgoing aperture facing said ring;   a low-friction insert in each aperture projecting into said clearance, said insert having a spherically concave face in contact with and conforming to said outer surface; and   a plug of a hardenable substance in each aperture back-stopping the insert thereof.   
     
     
       10. A journal bearing as defined in claim 9 wherein said plug consists of concrete. 
     
     
       11. A swivelable journal bearing for a shaft, comprising: a shaft-supported inner ring with a spherically convex outer surface;   a multiplicity of rigid tubes extending generally toward the ring axis and forming a body coaxially surrounding said ring with clearance; and   a low-friction insert in each of said tubes projecting into said clearance, said insert having a spherically concave face in contact with and conforming to said outer surface.   
     
     
       12. A journal bearing as defined in claim 11 wherein said tubes are welded together in a cluster with intervening spaces. 
     
     
       13. A journal bearing as defined in claim 12, further comprising a lubricant occupying said spaces. 
     
     
       14. A journal bearing as defined in claim 11 wherein said tubes are embedded in a concrete shell surrounding said ring. 
     
     
       15. A journal bearing as defined in claim 11 wherein said tubes have axes lying in a plurality of planes perpendicular to the ring axis, said tubes having outer ends terminating at an imaginary cylinder surface centered on the ring axis.